Hong Kong slams efforts to ‘exert pressure’ on foreign judges on top court after Sydney protest
Patrick Anthony Keane questioned by protesters about jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai as he left Sydney court building
Hong Kong authorities have hit out over attempts to “exert pressure” on overseas justices serving on the city’s top court, after one of the Australian judges on the bench faced protesters following a speech in Sydney.
“The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government today strongly condemned recent attempts by some individuals overseas to exert improper pressure on non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal Mr Patrick Anthony Keane, blatantly interfering with ongoing criminal proceedings in the [city],” a government spokesman said.
“[Any] attempt by any organisation or individual to exert pressure on judges and judicial officers, and interfere with the criminal justice process by means of political power or any other means, is clearly a reprehensible act undermining the rule of law of the [city] and should be vehemently condemned.”
Foreign media reported that Keane delivered a speech titled “Christian Inspiration and Constitutional Insights” on Tuesday night in Sydney, as a group of protesters gathered outside the venue bearing pictures of Lai.
Keane was reported to have left the court building through another exit and was questioned by a protester about whether he knew Lai. He also did not show up at a subsequent event he was due to attend.